Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Methane (CH4) is a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG). Fugitive CH4 emissions from landfills account for approximately 5 to 6% of the world emissions ofGHG and at least 3% of the emissions in Canada. A technically viable and economically attractive solution to reduce these emissions is to complement the final cover with additional layers of materials which would otTer a favourable substrate for the development methanotrophic bacteria. These bacteria can passively oxidize C02 into CH4, without the need for particular equipment or maintenance. The modified final cover would thus become a large-scale biofilter, referred to as a passive methane oxidation barrier (PMOB). We are convinced that a well conceived PMOB can reduce fugitiVE CH4 emissions with a high rate of efficiency during the post-closure phase of a site, particularly between the moment that biogas extraction systems are shut off and the end of CH4 production, which can last for decades. Our expertise in related projects, in which we monitored PMOBs built according to another concept, is a considerable asset for the success of the proposed study. Our team lmows today that it is possible to reach very high levels of oxidation efficiency (sometimes in the vicinity of 100%). This research project represents a decisive stage of the development of the teclmology ofPMOBs. The objective is to build 2 PMOBs at an existing landfill, and monitor their behaviour and effectiveness in reducing fugitive emissions. This project is strategic because it will enable our multidisciplinary team to develop the concept (and the state ofknowledge) ofPMOBs to a point that our current industrial paliner will feel encouraged, at the end of the 3 years of the project, to invest in a pre-cOlmnercial stage PMOB. Moreover, the imlovative concept can be applied in any lawful environment, which convinces us that this concept (or variations thereot) will one day be implemented in most landfills. Researchers from around the globe working with landfill covers are gaining interest in this topic, and our project will be followed closely.